Watford completed a new club record transfer following the August 2019 deadline day arrival of highly sought-after Senegal international Ismaïla Sarr.
The Hornets beat off strong competition to secure the services of the young winger from Rennes, who agreed a five-year contract.
A Coupe de France winner with Rennes and an AFCON runner-up for Senegal, the exciting attacker started out with Metz before earning a move to fellow Ligue 1 side Rennes in 2017. He played 77 times over two years at Roazhon Park, scoring 18 goals, including some eye-catching displays against Arsenal in the Europa League.
The pacey forward appeared three times at the 2018 World Cup for Senegal and then played regularly throughout the Lions’ run to the AFCON 2019 final.
During his debut season at Vicarage Road Sarr scored six times, including a brace in the memorable 3-0 win against runaway champions Liverpool, ending the Reds' unbeaten run in style.
Sarr won Watford's Player of the Season award for 2020/21, scoring 13 goals and creating four assists as the Hornets won an immediate promotion back to the Premier League from the Championship.
Representing Senegal on the continent's biggest stage, Sarr played a key role in the latter stages of his country's Africa Cup of Nations win in 2022, notably scoring in the final's penalty shoot-out.
